Sowerby Bridge News

Calderdale Chief Exec Criticised Over Election Conduct

Calderdale Council’s Chief Executive and acting returning officer Owen Williams, has been heavily criticised by the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the House of Lords, for the manner in which the general and local election counts were carried out.

Lord David Shutt of Greetland claimed that, in contravention of electoral procedure, ballot boxes had deliberately been opened covertly, out of the sight of candidates, agents and scrutineers, and pledged to report Calderdale Council chief executive to the Electoral Commission over the conduct.

Speaking to the local press, Lord Shutt stated that: “I’m afraid Calderdale has lost the plot in terms of conducting an efficient and transparent count.”

“Lots of people have put in years of effort and there are rules as to how counts are conducted.”

“The chief executive has blatently disregarded them.”

The Electoral Commission has already undertaken to scrutinise failures which led to chaotic and angry scenes at many polling stations across the country, and prevented thousands of citizens from casting their vote.